Shoes, bibs and saddles are perhaps the three most personal cycling items you will ever purchase. When it comes to clipless shoes, I've bought a bunch and kept coming back to my trusty old beaters while returning or selling all the others. The beloved pair that I've been riding in for the last five years are now beyond well-worn. Considering they were second-hand when I got them, the scuffs and marks have now become tears and holes. They're simply not fit for the wet English weather I ride in.
Seeing your socks through the side of your shoes probably means it's time for them to be replaced, right? I knew mine would struggle to make another trip, so I reluctantly retired them. Ultimately, it was the right thing to do, but this would leave me with no clipless shoes for my Trans Pennine trip, forcing me to flip over to my flat pedals. The Trans Pennine Trail is a 215-mile coast-to-coast route that explores northern England almost entirely traffic-free. This was just the antidote I needed after the long hours at work over these past few months. However, I had my footwear dilemma still to solve, so when I heard about the Fi'zi:k Vento Proxy, I jumped at the chance to test out a pair.
Who Are Fi'zi:k Anyway?
Fi'zi:k has been a fixture in the cycling world since 1996, building a reputation for beautifully designed, performance-focused gear. Whether you ride road, triathlon, mountain, or—like me—gravel, they've likely got something that'll catch your eye (and empty your wallet). Their lineup is pure Italian: sleek, stylish, and crafted with care. Fi'zi:k proudly claims an obsession with both performance and design… and honestly, it shows.
First Ride Impressions
Out of the box, the Vento Proxy felt solid. I slapped on a pair of Shimano SPD cleats and went for a quick spin to get a feel for them.
Unlike some cheaper shoes I've tried (and sent straight back), these had zero lateral play once clipped in. After a small cleat adjustment to fine-tune the position, things felt locked in and ready for longer rides. No drama, no fiddling — just ride.
The difference between my old shoes and the Ventos was evident the instant I was on the bike. Not only are they well-built shoes, but they're light at only 326 grams. Which is, honestly, not a complete surprise from shoes bred from such an Italian racing pedigree. That's 40 grams lighter per shoe than my previous pair, which was a noticeable difference in rotational weight. I'm not someone who's out racing or counting grams, but for those looking to save weight and boost performance a little, these could be an instant win.
Continuing with Fi'zi:k race-bred line up, the Vento Proxy has a stiff, X3 carbon reinforced sole. This is my first experience with a shoe with a carbon shank, and I noticed the difference immediately in my power transfer, allowing me to put the pace down right off the mark. In fact, during the road sections of the Trans Pennine Trail, I had the most fun speeding off at the traffic lights, despite my fully-loaded bike. The sole is incredibly stiff, allowing solid pulls using the cleats, allowing me to speed off whenever the time is right.
Fi'zi:k have kept things simple with a single BOA Li2 fastener, which tightens the textile lace. It's easy to operate with a quick twist, or pull it up, and it disengages to quickly pull off the shoe.
There's a range of colorways to suit different tastes, from bold options like lilac-lime to classic black or white for those who prefer a more understated look. Even with the brighter choices, the overall design remains clean and refined, with minimal branding placed near the toe box and heel. It's crisp, sharp, and unmistakably Italian.
On The Trans Pennine Trail
My first test ride gave me enough confidence to take these shoes on the Trans Pennine. Aside from a pair of lightweight sandals for around camp, they'd be my only pair of shoes for the four-day trip from Southport to Hornsea.
After meeting up with a friend, things started early with a four-hour train ride across the country to get to our start. Clacking along through the station in cleats always gets funny looks, but negotiating stairs with fully-loaded bikes is no joke. The lifts were out of order, forcing us to dart quickly across platforms for quick changeovers. It was an unusual test I hadn't anticipated, yet they passed surprisingly for a race-bred shoe. They also handled walking well enough and even felt comfy standing, as there were no seats left on a few of the train rides.
Of course, the shoes handled the cycling even better. On the first day, I found myself readjusting the tightness of the BOA fit on the fly to get them dialled in to my liking. By the time I reached camp, I was pleased to be switching to my barefoot sandals. This is probably my main critique of the shoes: they felt somewhat tight around my lower foot, almost as though I could've done with an additional fastening closer to the toe area to allow me to get two separate tensions. It's worth noting that I wear a lot of barefoot shoes when not cycling, and am used to a wide toe box. Fi'zi:k does offer a wide fit, so if you're considering bagging a pair, look at the sizing difference online and check before ordering.
Other than the first day, the entire trip went by with little to no discomfort. Despite the shoes being pitched towards racers, I'd say that they're pretty comfortable after being on the bike for six hours at a time.
We rode old railways converted to multi-use trails, through small towns and villages. Crossing the Pennines in the northern Peak District, we hit a steep climb, which quickly had me walking. Even with the stiff soles, I found no difficulty walking and pushing my bike up the trails. There's plenty of grip along the whole outer edge of the shoe, and aside from the missing flex of non-cycling shoes, there wasn't a lot that these shoes couldn't handle.
It wasn't long after the heavens opened, and it started to rain. My love of the breathable mesh construction had me concerned that I would surely have wet feet by the end of the descent into Penistone; however, that never happened. Whether the mesh is too fine or it was my merino socks combined with the breathability of the shoe that allowed my feet to dry off quickly once the rain stopped, I'm unsure. That was until we pulled into camp, where the ride through long, wet grass put an end to dry socks. Any cycling shoe would've suffered at least some degree of water ingress at this point.
The final day's weather didn't turn out much better. It rained a lot. A full thunder orchestra in the sky, and what I'd thought was heavy rain the day before was more like a light shower. We took shelter in a cafe throughout the worst of it, where I found a final niggle with the Vento. We had gotten quite wet on the ride to the cafe, and as I stepped in the door, I quickly discovered that vinyl floors and the Vento Proxy were a slippery combination. With a quick reaction, I luckily avoided a fall. I know It's harsh to judge a cycling shoe about things when not clipped into a pedal, but if you're looking for a shoe that can take you on a ride in all conditions, through all terrains, and still let you stop to grab a flat white, then be aware—slippery when wet—applies in this case.
The trip ended in the sunshine after having had a great time exploring parts of the country I'd never seen before. The Fi'zi:k Vento Proxy had been a surprise to me as I initially thought I'd be losing the comfort of my old faithfuls. However, after the first day of fine-tuning, these shoes quickly became more than just okay. They were great! They let me sprint off the line at traffic lights, as well as handling the ‘off-bike' moments. For those riders looking for a pair of comfortable, race-bred shoes, these are serious contenders for your next adventure ride.
Conclusion
Remember those shoes I couldn't part with at the start of this review? Yeah, me neither. They're gone. In their place are the Fi'zi:k Vento Proxy, a shoe I'll genuinely keep wearing on most of my gravel rides from now on. That's not just because of the clean, understated design, but because they perform incredibly well. At $270 USD, they're definitely a premium option, but that's right in line with other high-end gravel shoes. For something this race-focused, they offer a surprising amount of versatility.
| ✓ Pros |
|---|
| Noticeably lighter than any other shoes I've had. |
| The breathable mesh uppers kept my feet cool and dry in warm weather. |
| Stiff and responsive when putting the power down |
| ✕ Cons |
|---|
| Seemed to fit a little narrow for me. |
| Caution: Slippery when wet when in the cafe |
